What kind of gun is he carrying?

[DanS]

What make of gun is this soldier carrying?

[DanS]

Are these just standard-issue M-16s (or whatever they are now)?

[Firelad]

M-16, and M-16 with grenade launcher. Thee second one might be shortened though. I think. I'm not a big expert.

[DanS]

Here's another one that looks slightly different.

[Giancarlo]

M-16A2.

The latest post is of an M-4 Carbine.

[uh Clem]

"gun"?

[Lincoln]

What kind of gun is she carrying?

[loinburger]

What's that in between her boobs? Is that a tattoo?

[Lincoln]

I think that is her amunition...

[Panag]

Re: What kind of gun is he carrying?

Originally posted by DanS
What make of gun is this soldier carrying?

hi ,

M4

have a nice day

[MichaeltheGreat]

The first one is an M16A1, the second is an M16A2 with M203 underbarrel 40mm grenade launcher, the third is an M4A1.

[DanS]

Excellent! Thanks, MtG.

Is there anything we can infer by them having these weapons. For instance, is an M4A1 issued to a certain unit or to somebody with a certain function within a unit?

Edit: Also, what are the relative strengths and weaknesses of these weapons versus an AK47 or a standard Uzi? How much do these cost in the US market (not enabled for semi-automatic, of course)?

[Alvaro]

the marines and all normal infantry units get the longer m16's. the granade launcher is given to several soldiers in every platoon for signals and heavier fire power.

the shorter (and less accurate by nature but normally they have day/night optics) M4A1 (or rarely shortened M16A2's that look almost the same but have a lighter barrel) is given to MP's and commando units such as the delta force and the rangers.

---

in the israeli army, by the way, things work differently, its usually the "2nd class" soldiers who get the long m16's (trainees, reserves, rear-units) whilst all main infantry battle units sport the M4's.

that is against logic in a awy since the longer weapons are the more accurate ones BUT... in israel the soldiers carry their weapons home and are often forced to deal with CQB in the occupied territories thus making the shorter weapon the "better" choice.

I have an M4A1 with a Meprolight reflex optic.

Edit to answer: The Uzi and the AK47 are automatic weapons whilst the M16/M4 family is that of assault rifles, their mechanisms are different. I'll try and explain in as simple a manor as possible.

The M16's (and the M4's) mechanism works as follows:

Insert magazine, pull charging handle (inserts round into weapon), open safety, pull trigger (boom and the weapon inserts next round autmoatically)

The AK47/Uzi: Insert magazine, pull charging handle (preapre weapon for firing), open safety, pull trigger (round is taken from magazine into the weapon and is immediately fired in one swift action).

In the M16 family the round can sit in the weapon without being fired whilst with the automatic weapons its all done in one action when you pull the trigger.

The advantage for the AK47/Uzi is the faster firing rate and better full auto firing. Also when the M16 recharges itself after every single round shot there is a possibility of the round "sitting" in the weapon for minutes whilst you search for your next target, it might accidentally go off due to the heat inside the weapon.

With speed, however, comes inaccuracy - the M16 is much more accurate than both the Uzi and the Kalachnikov. The Uzi is quite obsolete so it cannot really compare to the M16 these days, the AK however...

Each has its advatanges which level out aside from one: durability. The AK47 is far more reliable a weapon, especially in desert conditions.

The AK47's improved versions (AKMS and AK74) are a better weapon than the M16 and the M4.

Sorry for the "simple" language but my technical weapon know-how is in hebrew and I doubt you'd understand anything more technical than I've described...

[Panag]

The M16 Assault Rifle is the standard issue shoulder weapon in the US military. It marks a departure from normal ballistics in that it uses a smaller, high-velocity round (5.56 mm caliber vs. 7.62 mm). This results in a smaller and lighter weapon as well as smaller ammunition, significantly decreasing combat load.

The US Army long had a deeply entrenched and historical view which argued that carefully aimed, long-range rifle fire is superior to the high-volume but largely unaimed bursts of automatic weapons. Those who argued for aimed fire believed that good marksmanship and judicious control win battles and conserve ammunition. Others argued that weapons with higher volumes of fire would have met the wartime needs of the US military much better. At a time when the infantry of many armies is armed with sophisticated and fully automatic versions of assault rifles, US foot soldiers are equipped with the M-16, a one-pull, three-shot rifle.

The M-14 was the Army’ s original choice to replace World War II-era M-1 and Browning Automatic rifles. The M14 was an unhappy compromise weapon, that satisfied virtually no one, least of all the men for whom it was intended. General dissatisfaction with the M14 and numerous studies led the Army to the development of a light weight weapon capable of firing a burst of small caliber bullets with a controlled dispersion pattern. Unfortunately, the M-14's follow-on initially fared little better.

The replacement for the M14 was originally designed by Eugene Stoner, of the ArmaLite Company, as the AR-15 around 1956. The AR-10 was conceived by Eugene Stoner as a 7.62mm Basic infantry rifle in 1955. At that time the Army was considering replacements for the M1 Garand. The AR-10 was stunningly different than any previous design. It was produced with aircraft grade aluminum receivers, and therefore weighed less than seven pounds. The stock and other furniture were plastic, while the T-44 and T-48 were of wood. The configuration of the rifle itself, with its integral carrying handle and charging handle distinctively mounted within it, sparked intense curiosity. In the end, the AR-10 wasn’t able to catch up, and eventually lost out to the M-14 rifle in 1959.

Based on the AR-10, Army officials asked ArmaLite to develop a smaller version of the AR-10 in 1956. The ensuing rifle was called the AR-15. Army analysis of battlefield statistics from WWI, WWII and Korea, had shown that most kills from small arms occured at ranges of less than 300 yards. This suggested that the military should seriously consider lighter weight, higher capacity weapons. Seeking a novel cartridge suitable for a smaller caliber assault rifle, Eugene Stoner approached Winchester Corporation. The result was the small but powerful .223 Rifle Cartrdige -- high-velocity, light weight, low recoil, and capable of penetrating a helmet per US Army specifications.

Production of the AR-15 rifle was licensed to to Colt Manufacturing Company in 1959. Early Colt AR-15s, their magazines, and their operators manuals were marked with ArmaLite’s name. Colt’s retained the AR-15 designation on commercial rifles. To this day Colt’s has a model designation with the letters AR, which stands for “ArmaLite”.

The AR-15 was selectable for full and automatic fire. The AR-15 was to have had the same effective range as the M14 rifle, but it was most effective at a range of 215 yards (200m) or less. The M16 used a 5.56mm (.223 cal.) cartridge in 20- or 30-round magazines. The U.S. Air Force completed tests of the AR-15 in January 1961. The Air Force procured 8,500 rifles in 1961 and standardized the AR-15 in 1963. The weapon was first deployed to the Air Force’s Air PoliceThe original AR-15 was designated the M16 in 1962.

In the Vietnam era, DARPA (then ARPA) gained acceptance for the AR-15 by sponsoring its demonstration in combat. Colt brought the weapon to DARPA in 1962. Through Project AGILE, DARPA purchased 1,000 AR-15s and issued them to combat troops in Southeast Asia for field trials, to prove that the high-velocity 5.56 mm round had satisfactory performance. The subsequent DARPA report, documenting the lethality of the AR-15, was instrumental in motivating the Secretary of Defense to reconsider the Army’s decision and eventually adopt a modified AR-15 as the US military individual weapon of choice. Although opposed by the Ordnance Corps, the Armalite AR-15 was adopted by the Secretary of Defense as the 5.56mm M16 rifle.

By 1963 US Army was purchasing the M16 for use in South East Asia and by various elite forces. The Army also ordered 85,000 rifles in 1963. An additional 35,000 were ordered in 1964, 100,000 in 1965, and 100,000 in 1966. These rifles were initially issued primarily to combat troops in the Dominican Republic and to Special Forces, Airborne, helicopter crews, Air Commando and other special category troops in Vietnam.

The M-16 was type classified standard A in 1965 and became the military’s basic service rifle. By 1966 it was in widespread use. The M16 was called the "black rifle" and "Mattel toy" thanks to its appearance. Troops liked the light weight, but complained about insufficient range and lethality. While the M16 had been marketed as virtually "maintenance free, poor maintenance instructions (or even no instructions) and jungle climate together with the fouling-prone direct gas system caused trouble. Its high rates of fire in the jungle environment had a larger impact on increasing American morale than on actually inflicting enemy casualties. The move to high-velocity 5.56 mm was also subsequently adopted by the Israelis, the Soviets, and NATO allies. DARPA’s most significant contribution to this program was its willingness to “think outside of the box” and try something new.

Colt AR-15
The civilian version of the M-16, called the AR-15, is a single-shot weapon manufactured by Colt. The Colt AR-15 is used by private citizens for everything from deer hunting to plinking at cans.

Any weapon which shoots automatically, more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger, is a machinegun as defined in 26 U.S.C. 5845(b), the National Firearms Act (NFA). In addition, the definition of a machinegun also includes any combination of parts from which a machinegun may be assembled, if such parts are in possession or under the control of a person. An AR-15 type assault rifle which fires more than one shot by a single function of the trigger is a machinegun under the NFA. Any machinegun is subject to the NFA and the possession of an unregistered machinegun could subject the possessor to criminal prosecution. ATF has encountered various AR-15 type assault rifles such as those manufactured by Colt, E.A. Company, SGW, Sendra and others, which have been assembled with fire control components designed for use in M16 machineguns. The vast majority of these rifles which have been assembled with an M16 bolt carrier, hammer, trigger, disconnector and selector will fire automatically merely by manipulation of the selector or removal of the disconnector. Many of these rifles using less than these five M16 parts also will shoot automatically by manipulation of the selector or removal of the disconnector.

The Colt AR-15 is a semiautomatic assault weapon as defined in the Gun Control Act of 1968. 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(30). It is generally unlawful to possess or transfer these firearms. 18 U.S.C. 922(v)(1). This prohibition, however, does not apply to any AR-15 that was lawfully possessed on or before Sept. 13, 1994. 18 U.S.C. 921(v)(2).

M16A1 Semiautomatic Rifle
In 1967 the M16A1 was adopted by the US Army. It featured a positive forward assist to help close the bolt when dirty, chromium plated chamber and bore to resist corrosion and an improved gas system with a new bolt buffer designed to reduce the rate of fire on full auto. These improvements, together with a new field cleaning kit and better maintenance instruction, helped to get rid of the reliability problems.

Despite the problems encountered during initial fielding, better training, preventive maintenance, and several design changes, resulted in the weapon that has become the standard issue rifle of the US Army, with some 3,690,000 having been manufactured. The weapon, chambered for 5.56x45mm NATO caliber, has been a mainstay of the U.S. military ever since, and gradually replaced the M14 in U.S. service through the 1960’s.

M16A2 Semiautomatic Rifle
The M16A2 semiautomatic rifle is the standard by which all military rifles of the future will be judged. This variant of the M16 fires a three-round burst in semiautomatic operation. The system incorporates an adjustable rear sight which corrects for both wind and elevation, a heavier barrel with 1-in-7 rifling, and a muzzle compensator to prevent muzzle climb during semiautomatic operation. The M16A2 is capable of firing all NATO standard 5.56mm ammunition and can fire 40mm grenades when equipped with the M203 Grenade Launcher.

The M16A2 replaced the M16A1 in U.S. Army service in 1983. It is essentially an improved M16A1. Major changes include: a switch from full automatic to 3-round burst capability; a heavier barrel; improved sights; new, stronger plastic buttstock, handguard, and pistol grip.The M16A2 has some practical features missing from the M16A1, found on the M4A1 -- the prime examples being the ability to rapidly breakdown the gun and fieldstrip, as well as the high metal parts content.

The M16A2 5.56mm rifle is a lightweight, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed, shoulder- or hip-fired weapon designed for either automatic fire (3-round bursts) or semiautomatic fire (single shot) through the use of a selector lever. The weapon has a fully adjustable rear sight. The bottom of the trigger guard opens to provide access to the trigger while wearing winter mittens. The upper receiver/barrel assembly has a fully adjustable rear sight and a compensator which helps keep the muzzle down during firing. The steel bolt group and barrel extension are designed with locking lugs which lock the bolt group to the barrel extension allowing the rifle to have a lightweight aluminum receiver.

The M16A2 rifle is a product improvement of the M16A1 rifle. The improvements are:


a heavier, stiffer barrel than the barrel of the M16A1;

a redesigned handguard, using two identical halves, with a round contour which is sturdier and provides a better grip when holding the rifle;

a new buttstock and pistol grip made of a tougher injection moldable plastic that provides much greater resistance to breakage;

an improved rear sight which can be easily adjusted for windage and range;

a modified upper receiver design to deflect ejected cartridges, and preclude the possibility of the ejected cartridges hitting the face of a left-handed firer;

a burst control device, that limits the number of rounds fired in the automatic mode to three per trigger pull, which increases accuracy while reducing ammunition expenditure;

a muzzle compensator, designed to reduce position disclosure and improve controllability and accuracy in both burst and rapid semi-automatic fire;

a heavier barrel with a 1 in 7 twist to fire NATO standard SS 109 type (M855) ammunition which is also fired from the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). This further increases the effective range and penetration of the rifle cartridge. The M16A2 will also shoot the older M193 ammunition designed for a 1 in 12 twist.



Primary function: Infantry weapon
Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing and Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing Inc.
Length: 39.63 inches (100.66 centimeters)
Weight, with 30 round magazine: 8.79 pounds (3.99 kilograms)
Bore diameter: 5.56mm (.233 inches)
Maximum range :3,600 meters Maximum effective range:
Area target: 2,624.8 feet (800 meters)
Point target: 1,804.5 feet (550 meters)
Muzzle velocity: 2,800 feet (853 meters) per second
Rate of fire:
Cyclic: 800 rounds per minute
Sustained: 12-15 rounds per minute
Semiautomatic: 45 rounds per minute
Burst: 90 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Unit Replacement Cost: $586




M-16A2 Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle [SAMR]
The Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle [SAMR] consists of the Trijicon Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight mounted on top of a M-16A2 with a match-grade heavy barrel and Harris bipod. It is an interim solution. Currently, Marine rifle squads have two sets of distinct weapons: three grenade launchers and three squad automatic weapons. If the experiment proves successful, they could get three SAMs as well. Some squads used SAMs for effective long-range shots against single targets. Others put SAMs in over-watch positions to cover a squad’s movement to an objective, while some used them to scour avenues of approach, gathering on-scene intelligence. The scope, which has a unique reticle pattern with a red chevron for a 300-meter aiming point, also improved the ability to range targets at unknown distances. The chevron’s upside-down V fits squarely over the shoulders of a man-sized target at 300 meters. The 400-, 500- and 600-meter bars just below the chevron also fits within the outer limits of a man’s shoulders at that distance. Marines, shooting the M-16A2 with iron sights, had a first-shot hit rate of 45 percent on targets between 137 and 432 meters. With the SAMR, those rates were 88 percent.

M16A3 Semiautomatic Rifle
The M16A3, which replace the M16A2 in 1994, is basically an M16A2 with full-automatic capability and optional M4A1-style Rail Interface System (RIS). The M16A3 and the M16A4 are identical to the M16A2, but both have the modular upper receiver. The M16A3 is capable of fully automatic fire, like the M16A1, while the M16A4 uses the M16A2's three-round burst mechanism. Additionally, several types of optical sights have been developed for the modular upper.

M16A4 Semiautomatic Rifle
The M16A4 is identical to the M16A3, but can fire single shots or 3-round bursts (no full auto). The M16A4 Rifle is a standard M16A2 Rifle with a flat top upper receiver and detachable carrying handle. The flat top upper receiver has an integral rail that will be utilized (when the carrying handle is removed) to mount optical devices to the weapon. The M16A4 Rifle in combination with the M5 Rail Adapter forms the Modular Weapon System (rifle version) which provide soldiers the flexibility to configure their weapons with those accessories required to fulfill an assigned mission. There are no differences between the internal dimensions of the M16A2 Rifle and the M16A4 Rifle.

M4/M4A1 Carbine
The M4/M4A1 5.56mm Carbine is a lightweight, gas operated, air cooled, magazine fed, selective rate, shoulder fired weapon with a collapsible stock. A shortened variant of the M16A2 rifle, the M4 provides the individual soldier operating in close quarters the capability to engage targets at extended range with accurate, lethal fire. The M4 Carbine achieves over 80% commonality with the M16A2 Rifle and will replace all M3 .45 caliber submachine guns and selected M9 pistols and M16 rifle series.

After the military conflicts in Panama, the Persian Gulf and Somalia, the need for a shorter version of the M16A2 again appeared. Colt engineers shortened the barrel back to 14.5", contoured the barrel to mount the M203 grenade launcher, and added a collapsible, sliding buttstock. They also created a new upper receiver using a modular sight mounting system for use on a sub-variant. In August 1994, both variations were adopted. The United States Carbine, Caliber 5.56mm NATO, M4 uses the new barrel and collapsible buttstock, but was first issued with the standard M16A2 upper receiver and sights to streamline production, though it now is made with the new modular upper receiver.

The M4 Carbine is similar in design and functioning to the M16 family of rifles, thereby greatly simplifying training, supply, and maintenance. Compared to the M16A2 rifle, the M4 Carbine is 1.3 pounds lighter, 6 5/8 inches shorter with buttstock extended, and almost 10 inches shorter with the buttstock collapsed. The basis of issue plan replaces on a one-for-one basis all caliber .45 submachine guns, selected caliber .45 and 9mm pistols, and selected Ml6A2 rifles. Infantry personnel receiving the M4 include platoon leaders, platoon sergeants, radio-telephone operators, and mortar gunners. The pistols carried by Infantry commanders, executive officers, and operations officers will not be replaced.

M4 SOPMOD Accessory Kit
The Special Operations Peculiar Modification to the M4 Carbine (SOPMOD M4) Accessory Kit Program is sponsored by the United States Special Operations Command and is responsible for procuring and fielding Non-Developmental Item/Commercial Off-the-Shelf (NDI/COTS) components that increase the operational effectiveness of the M4A1 Carbine in both day and night conditions. This allows SOF operators to configure the M4A1 carbine based on mission-specific requirements; kit items increase weapons effectiveness through improved target acquisition and fire control in close-quarters battle and out to ranges of 500 meters, both day and night.

The procurement/fielding of the Accessory Kit (Phase I) is nearly complete, however, the program is looking to continuously improve the existing kit components as well as providing new NDI/COTS technologies to Special Forces. Currently, the Accessory Kit is comprised of the following components: 4X Day Scope, Reflex Sight, Rail Interface System (MIL-STD 1913), Vertical Forward Handgrip, Quick Attach/Detach M203 Grenade Launcher Mount and Sight, Infrared Laser Pointer/Illuminator, Visible Laser, Visible Bright Light, Backup Iron Sight, Combat Sling, Sloping Cheek Weld Stock, Mini Night Sight and 9" M203 Grenade Launcher Barrel.

All kit items currently fielded or in production with the exception of the Mini Night Vision Sight (MNVS). Operational testing completed on MNVS in the third quarter FY 1999, with fielding to follow. Beginning work now on supplemental requirements to SOPMOD Generation II, which begins R&D efforts in FY 2000 and FY 2001. Generation II SOPMOD will concentrate on consolidation of current devices and new capabilities designed to enhance the lethality of the SOF operator.


hi ,

try www.ar15.com for more info

have a nice day

[DanS]

Are these guns made in the US or in Israel? Both?